Bottle carrier



Oct. 24, 1967 P. J. WOOD BOTTLE CARRIER I Fild Oct. 50, 1964 FIG! 6 I o INVENTOR.

PRENTICE J. wooo M7 W4 FIG-4 ATTO RNEY United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The carrier as disclosed herein comprises a tubular enclosure having top, bottom and spaced side walls. An upstanding keel is formed medially on the bottom wall and is provided with a notch at each end which is disposed to receive the lower edge of the overlapping inner edges of end panels foldably joined to the end edges of the side walls so as to form a substantially complete closure for the ends of the carrier.

This invention relates to bottle carriers and more particularly to end closure means for wrap-around type bottle carriers.

Open-ended bottle carriers for packaging groups of primary packages such as chimed cans and capped bottles constitute an economical and satisfactory packaging arrangement for many products. Where light protection is a consideration insofar as the packaged items are concerned and where the packages are to be shipped over substantial distances, it is desirable to provide closure means for the ends of such packages.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved closure structure for the ends of wrap-around type article carriers.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved closure means for wrap-around type packages The invention in one form comprises a pair of end panels foldably joined to the end edges of the side walls at each end of a wrapper together with interlocking means for securing the adjacent edges of the endpanels together and locking means for engaging at least one of the end panels so as to hold the panels securely in the closed position.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had' to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wrap-around type of carrier to which-this invention is applicable and which shows closure means constructed according to this invention; FIG. 2 is an end view of the arrangement depitced in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side view of the arrangement depicted in FIG. 1; and in which FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank from which the wrapper shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, is formed.

With reference to the drawings, the numeral 1 generally designates the top panel of the wrapper. A plurality of sunburst openings 2-7 inclusive are formed in the top panel 1 and are for receiving the necks of bottles packaged in the wrapper. These openings 2-7 are provided with radial slits such for example as are designated by the numeral 8. These radial slits provide a plurality of radially disposed bottle cap gripping elements designated in FIGS. 1 and 4 by the numeral 9 and which are arranged to grip the caps of the packaged bottles from underneath. In this way the main panel 1 is securely anchored to the packaged articles. Also formed in the top panel 1 is a pair of finger gripping apertures designated by the numeral 10.

Conforming with the shoulders of the packaged bottles, a pair of top sloping panels 11 and 12 are foldably joined along the weakened fold lines 13 and 14 to the side edges of the top panel 1. A pair of side wall panels 15 and 1-6 are foldably joined to the top sloping panels 11 and 12, respectively, along the weakened fold lines 17 and 18. Similarly, bottom sloping panels 19 and 20 are foldably joined to the bottom edges of side wall panels 15 and 16 along the fold lines 21 and 22, respectively. Formed in bottom sloping panel 19 are the bottle receiving openings 23, 24 and 25. As is well known, the bottom portion of the bottles protrude through the openings 23, 24 and 25 which serve to hold the bottles in place within the carrier. In like fashion, the openings 26, 27 and 28 are formed in the bottom sloping panel 20 and correspond to the openings 23, 24 and 25.

For forming the bottom of the carrier, a pair of bottom panels 29 and 3-0 are foldably joined respectively to the bottom sloping panels 19 and 20 along the fold lines 31 and 32.

In order to tighten the wrapper about a group of bottles to be packaged, a pair of tightening apertures 33 and 34 are formed within the bottom panel 29 and a pair of similar tightening apertures 35 and 36 are formed within the bottom panel 30. As is understood in the art, suitable machine elements enter the tightening apertures 33 and 34 and move underneath the group of articles toward the bottom panel 30. Similar machine elements enter the tightening apertures 35 and 36 and draw the panel 30 toward the bottom panel 29. After the wrapper is suitably tightened, the locking tabs 37-40 formed in the bottom panel 29 are driven through the locking openings defined by the retaining tabs 41-44 formed in the bottom panel 30. Of course the panels 29 and 30 are then arranged in overlapping relationship with the panel 30 disposed on the inside.

For separating the end bottles on one side of the wrapperfrom the middle bottles, a pair of tabs 45 and 46 are struck from bottom panel 29 and foldably joined thereto along their respective fold lines 47 and 48. In like fashion, tabs 49 and 50 are struck from bottom panel 30 and are foldably joined thereto along fold lines 51 and 52 respectively. Tabs 45 and 46 as well' as the tabs 49 and 50 are folded into a position generally normal to the bottom panels 29 and 30 as is shown for example in FIGS. 2 and 3. v

For the purpose of forming a closure for. the ends of the wrapper as described above and in accordance with this invention, a pair of end closurepanels 53 and 54 are f'oldably joined along fold lines 55 and 56 respectively to the ends of side wall panel 16. Similarly a' pair of end closure panels 57 and 58 are foldably joined along fold lines 59 and 60 respectively to the end edges of side wall panel 15. A hooked interlocking tab 61 is formed on the inner edge of end panel 53 while a similar interlocking tab 62 is formed on the inner edge of end panel 54. For receiving the interlocking tabs 61 and 62 so as to form interlocking means for the end panels at the end of the carrier, a pair of slits 63 and 64 are formed respectively in the end panels 57 and 58. As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 the tab 61 simply slips through the slit 63 from outside so as to secure the end panels 53 and 57 to each other.

Security of the interlocking action between the end panels is further enhanced by the holding tabs 53a and 54a on panels 53 and 54 which positively hold the bottom edges of the associated panels securely in the locking notches 67 and 68. This action also aids in holding panels 57 and 58 closed because such panels are behind the panels 53 and 54 and the tabs 53a and 54a. Weakened lines 53!) and 54b facilitate movement of tabs 53a and of the locking action.

In order to aid in holding the closure means comprising the end panels inwardly and in engagement with the adjacent end bottles, a pair of locking notches are formed in a medial keel panel designated by the numeral 65 and foldably joined along fold line 66 to one edge of the bottom panel 30. The notches are designated at 67 and 68. As is understood in the art, the keel panel 65 normally is disposed in perpendicular relationship to the bottom panels 29 and 30 as is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As will be understood from the drawing, the outer end panel 53 is simply forced inwardly toward the end bottles until the lower portion thereof rides into the locking notch 67. Of course this arrangement serves to hold both panels 53 and 57 securely closed. Likewise, end closure panels 54 and 58 are held in the closed position by locking notch 68 at the other end of medial keel panel 65.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the end panel 53 is configured to conform with the adjacent portions of the wrapper as is the end panel 57. For example, end panel 53 is bevelled as indicated at 69 so as to conform generally with the disposition of top sloping panel 13. Likewise end panel 53 is bevelled as indicated at 70 so as to cause the end panel 53 to conform generally with the disposition of bottom sloping panel 20. Similarly, the end panel 57 is bevelled at 71 and 72. End panels 54 and 58 are constructed in a manner to cause those panels to conform to the opposite end of the carrier.

From the description thus far it will be understood that according to this invention protection for the packaged items is afforded at the ends of the wrapper in the form of the end panels 53, 54 and 57, 58 and the structure associated therewith. Since the sunburst configuration disposed about the openings 2-7 in the top panel I serve to anchor the top panel securely in position relative to the packaged items, the end panels 53, 54, 57 and 58 are all securely affixed in position and hence afford a reliable and sturdy end closure for the ends of the wrapper.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A carrier for packaging two rows of bottles whose axes are disposed in substantially parallel relation to one another, said carrier comprising a top panel, a pair of top sloping panels foldably joined to opposite sides of said top panel, a pair of side wall panels foldably joined respectively along the edges of said top sloping panels remote from said top panel, a pair of bottom panels foldably joined respectively along the edges of said side wall panels, fastening means for securing said bottom panels together, a medial keel panel foldably joined to one of said bottom panels and disposed between the two rows of bottles, an end panel foldably joined to each end edge of each side wall panel, interlocking means for securing the end panels at each end of the carrier together to form a substantially complete closure for the ends of the carrier, and a locking notch formed in said keel panel near the ends thereof for receiving and holding the adjacent end panels closed.

2. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the end panels are shaped to conform generally with the cross sectional configuration of the carrier.

3. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the top panel is provided with openings arranged rectilinearly to receive the necks of the packaged bottles and wherein the peripheral edges of the openings are constructed with radial cut lines to form sunbursts for engaging the caps of the packaged bottles from underneath thereby to anchor the top panel to the group of packaged bottles.

4. A wrap-around type of bottle carrier for packaging a plurality of bottles having neck portions and closure caps, said carrier comprising a sheet of material adapted to be wrapped about a group of bottles and arranged to have its edges adjoined to form an open ended tubular container having a top section and a bottom section interconnected by a pair of side wall panels, a plurality of apertures formed in the top section for receiving the necks of the packaged bottles, and a pair of end panels at each end of the carrier, each end panel being foldably joined to an edge of each side wall panel, interlocking means formed in each end panel of each pair of end panels for securing the panels of each pair of end panels in closed positions, a medial keel panel forming an extension of one end of the sheet of material at the bottom of the carrier, and a fastening notch formed in said keel panel for receiving at least one of the adjacent end panels to aid in holding said end panels closed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,134,627 10/1938 Turner 210101 2,705,556 4/1955 Ringler 206- 3,128,010 4/1964 Rorrer 229-40 X 3,154,827 11/1964 Gentry 206-65 X 3,204,814 9/1965 Mahon 220-112 3,252,649 5/ 1966 Graser et al. 229-40 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner.

D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CARRIER FOR PACKAGING TWO ROWS FO BOTTLES WHOSE AXES ARE DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID CARRIER COMPRISING A TOP PANEL, A PAIR OF TOP SLOPING PANELS FOLDABLY JOINED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID TOP PANEL, A PAIR OF SIDE WALL PANELS FOLDABLY JOINED RESPECTIVELY ALONG THE EDGES OF SAID TOP SLOPING PANELS REMOTE FROM SAID TOP PANEL, A PAIR OF BOTTOM PANELS FOLDABLY JOINED RESPECTIVELY ALONG THE EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALL PANELS, FASTENING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BOTTOM PANELS TOGETHER, A MEDIAL KEEL PANEL FOLDABLY JOINED TO ONE OF SAID BOTTOM PANELS AND DIPOSED BETWEEN THE TWO ROWS OF BOTTOMS, AND END PANEL FOLDABLY JOINED TO EACH END EDGE OF EACH SIDE WALL PANEL, INTERLOCKING MEANS FOR SECURING THE END PANELS AT EACH END OF THE CARRIER TOGETHER TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE CLOSURE FOR THE ENDS OF THE CARRIER, AND A LOCKING NOTCH FORMED IN SAID KEEL PANEL NEAR THE ENDS THEREOF FOR RECEIVING AND HOLDING THE ADJACENT END PANELS CLOSED. 